Confucius shares advice for Facebook ‘friends’ …

My sister-in-law came to stay at the weekend. On Saturday night over a very pleasant dinner we had a lively discussion about social media. She’s just joined Facebook and has, after some consideration, been accepted as a ‘friend’ by one of her three adult children … so far — the other two, 18 & 20, are still thinking about it! (As they are, ahem, entitled to do, of course.)

This led to a discussion about some of the issues around Facebook ‘privacy’; WHO you could/should count as your ‘friends’ on Facebook (i.e. what your criteria should be); and why some people seem to want to be everyone’s friend — thus ‘cheapening’ (in my view) the whole ‘friend’ thing.

Some people even seek Facebook ‘friend’ status with their business competitors or critics for reasons that make me feel bemused but queasy. (In my view the stigma isn’t worth it.)

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As I meandered the length and breadth of Auckland yesterday on my bike – these Taupo training rides do take up your day – my mind did wander back to a Facebook Friend issue that had arisen awhile back when someone I would never consider a friend sent me a friend request.

It raises the whole idea of having a public watchlist or two. People of interest (that’s what is good about the “fan of” concept) but also you need a category for links to people that you keep an eye on but don’t necessarily endorse – like John Banks and other politicians. To join their “Friends” might give the wrong message entirely.

Then there are the people that you want to publicly blacklist but you’d be a brave soul to bare your public blacklist on any website – that said, it would make life interesting!